Northern Hemisphere – around 22nd September ( 0 degrees Libra) Southern Hemisphere around 20th March (0 degrees Aries)

Mabon – Autumn Equinox

Mabon is the the midpoint in the wheel of the year, the second harvest festival where the hours of daylight and darkeness are of equal length, and preparation begins for the coming winter.

From Mabon the hours of daylight begin to grow shorter, and the nights longer until the Winter Solstice.

Mabon is a time of gratitude and reflection, recognising your successes and letting go of what no longer serves you.

Celebrating the abundance of the harvest, and to honor the changing of the seasons and the cycle of life, death, and rebirth – both literally and spiritually.

COLOURS

ORANGE: abundance, warmth, harvest, GOLD: The Sun God, masculinity, wealth, YELLOW: the Sun, warmth, joy. RED: represents the waning energy of the sun. BROWN: nature, grounding,

CRYSTALS

AMBER: Warmth, sun, JASPER: Stability, grounding, connection to the earth. CITRINE: Abundance, prosperity and connection to the earth

SCENTS

CINNAMON: warmth, abundance, protection CLOVE: Protection. FRANKINCENSE: Purification, protection and spiritual growth. NUTMEG: Good luck, spiritual awakening, prosperity SAGE: Wisdom and spiritual cleansing. ROSEMARY: remembrance, healing and protection. MARIGOLD: Suns warmth, joy, harvest SUNFLOWERS:


Ways to Celebrate Mabon


There are many ways to embrace the spirit of Mabon, whether through solitary reflection or community gatherings.

Here are some meaningful ways to celebrate:

1. Gratitude and Reflection
Mabon is often referred to as the “Pagan Thanksgiving.” Take time to acknowledge your blessings, express gratitude, and reflect on personal growth over the past months.


2. Harvest Rituals
Since Mabon is a harvest festival, celebrate by gathering seasonal fruits and vegetables like apples, squash, and grains. Cooking a feast with these ingredients is a wonderful way to honor the season.


3. Altar and Home Decor
Decorate your space with symbols of autumn—pumpkins, acorns, corn husks, and candles in warm hues of red, orange, and gold. Creating an altar with these elements can serve as a focal point for meditation and ritual.


4. Balance and Letting Go
As Mabon represents balance, it is a great time to assess different aspects of your life. Consider releasing things that no longer serve you, whether physical clutter, unhealthy habits, or emotional burdens.


5. Nature Walks and Outdoor Meditation
Spending time in nature allows you to witness the beauty of the changing season. Take a walk in the woods, collect fallen leaves, or simply sit and appreciate the crisp air and shifting energies.


6. Divination and Spiritual Practices
Mabon is an excellent time for tarot readings, scrying, or rune casting to gain insight into the coming months. Meditation and journaling can also help align your intentions for the remainder of the year.


7. Community and Giving Back
Since harvest festivals celebrate abundance, consider sharing your prosperity by donating food or helping those in need. Acts of kindness align with the season’s theme of gratitude and generosity.


Embracing the Season
Mabon reminds us of the cyclical nature of life. It is a time to appreciate what we have, prepare for the darker months ahead, and find harmony in the shifting energies of nature. Whether through quiet reflection or festive gatherings, embracing Mabon can bring a deeper connection to the world around us and to ourselves.


Several deities are associated with Mabon and the autumn equinox, reflecting themes of harvest, balance, and transformation. Here are a few prominent ones:

Celtic & Welsh Deities

  • Mabon ap Modron – A Welsh deity whose name means “Great Son of the Mother.” He symbolizes youth, renewal, and the balance of light and dark.
  • Modron – Mabon’s mother, often associated with the Great Mother Goddess, fertility, and nurturing.

Greek & Roman Deities

  • Demeter & Persephone – Demeter, the goddess of the harvest, mourns as her daughter, Persephone, returns to the underworld, marking the descent into the darker half of the year.
  • Dionysus (Bacchus) – The god of wine, fertility, and revelry, representing the harvest’s bounty and the cycle of life and death.

Norse Deities

  • Freyr – A god of fertility, harvest, and prosperity, connected to the changing of the seasons.
  • Idunn – Goddess of youth and keeper of the golden apples, which represent eternal life and renewal.

Other Deities

  • Cernunnos (Celtic) – The horned god of nature, life, and the cycle of death and rebirth, often honored during seasonal changes.
  • The Green Man – A symbolic figure of nature’s cycle, embodying the spirit of growth, decay, and rebirth.

These deities embody the essence of Mabon: gratitude for the harvest, preparation for the coming winter, and the cyclical balance of nature. Would you like to explore rituals or offerings for these deities?